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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Fun Summer Learning Activities for Elementary Students - Guest Post

A question that people who are
unfamiliar with homeschooling often ask is if there is really much of a
distinction between holidays and school days if you are being homeschooled.
Doesn’t every day feel like a holiday? After all, study plans are not as rigid
and structured as they are at regular schools. The answer is that the way
children are homeschooled varies and yes, they are more flexible. But to
completely slack off from studies during summer holidays will be as much of a
step back for children being homeschooled as it is to children who attend
regular school.

It is amazing how easily kids
forget what they have learnt in school during summer vacations. This means
precious amount of time is spent reviewing the previous lessons before
proceeding with the new ones. Worksheets are a great way to help kids practice
what they have learnt but summer learning does not have to stop there. They can
learn various skills with fun activities and expand their knowledge.

Build a Game

This summer, playing online games
may not be such a bad thing. There are many educational games for kids
that can replace worksheets. It need not stop there. Kids can be encouraged to
play simpler games and then work with apps and tutorials to understand how
these games function. In other words, these games can be seen as a gateway to
teaching coding to young children.

What kids can learn: educational content in games, coding and
logical thinking

Patch of Herbs

What’s summer without some
greenery and flowers? Flowers or vegetables can be difficult to tend to.
However, children can get started with a little herb garden. They can learn
about the benefits of herbs and how to grow them. Taking care of their garden
will teach them responsibility. A place that receives sunlight for at least
five to six hours a day is a good place to plant the herbs. You can also plant
them in small containers and keep them near a window that receives sunlight.
Herbs that can be grown are parsley, rosemary, basil, thyme, mint and sage. All
you need is seeds or the plants, fertilizer, and potting soil. Children can
write the names of the herbs on index cards to recognize the herb.

What kids can learn: processes involved in growing plants, types of
herbs, responsibility

Instead of traditional
journaling, kids can start creating
a comic of their summer vacations. Encourage them to pick the highlight for
a day and draw a single panel each day to track how their holidays were spent.
Another way to journal is with a ‘photograph a day’ project. Children can pick
an object or event to photograph each day. This will allow them to observe what
is around them more closely. If they feel unsure about what to shoot, creating
a theme will help. For example, ‘Summer Flavors’ can be everything that stands
for summer, from ice creams to a hammock. The theme can also be less abstract
but that may not motivate kids to make connections that are less obvious.

If you are planning a vacation,
turn that into an activity that will teach children how to research the place
and collect relevant information. Ask them to create a booklet about the place
you will be visiting that covers the history, interesting places to see, and
other cultural details. Once you are back, they can write a little piece about
the place as an experience instead of just facts.

What kids can learn: culture, history, how to research online,
gathering information and writing

With a calendar packed with fun
learning activities, summer will be a breeze! What do you have on your agenda?

Author Bio:

Corinne Jacob is a
wannabe writer who is convinced that kids learn best when they’re having fun.
She is constantly on the lookout for new and exciting ways to make learning an
enjoyable experience. Corinne loves all things that scream out un-schooling,
alternative education and holistic learning.

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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